Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 24th May
Abbot Paul • May 23, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 24th May 2022
At Belmont today we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the cathedral church of the diocese, in our case the Archdiocese of Cardiff. It’s a bit of an anomaly that Herefordshire still belongs to a Welsh diocese while being a quintessential English border county. It should be remembered, however, that much of this county south of the Wye remained ethically and linguistically Welsh well into the 18th century. For this reason, it became part of the Welsh region of the Catholic Church when this was created in 1840 with Bishop Thomas Joseph Brown, a monk of Downside, as Vicar Apostolic. In 1850 he was appointed first Bishop of Newport and Menevia (the Latin for Wales), but had no cathedral church. When Belmont was built during the 1850s, he accepted it from the founder, Francis Richard Wegg-Prosser, to be the cathedral of the diocese. And so it remained until 1916, when the see was transferred to Cardiff and the parish church of St David chosen to be the new cathedral. For just four years Belmont was the co-cathedral, until it became an abbey in 1920. Today, then, we celebrate the Dedication of the Cathedral Church of St David in Cardiff.
After that rather long historic introduction, just a few words follow about the Gospel read everywhere else, again taken from John, (Jn 16: 5-11), being the continuation of yesterday’s passage. Jesus has told his disciples that he will send them the Holy Spirit, the Advocate or Paraclete, that proceeds from the Father. He goes on to explain how the Spirit will come and why. One thing is clear: the Spirit’s coming necessitates his own leaving them, at least in the physical form of his body.
“I must tell you the truth:
it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,
the Advocate will not come to you;
but if I do go,
I will send him to you.”
Jesus will return to the Father, taking his body with him, at his Ascension, but with the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will always be with his disciples spiritually until the end of time. This is what we believe and hold firm to today. Jesus is with us because it is the Holy Spirit who makes that possible, just as in all the sacraments, it is the Spirit who makes Christ present. An excellent example of this is the Eucharist. It is through the Holy Spirit that the bread and wine become transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus and that we are transformed into Christ through the Spirit’s indwelling in our souls. The Spirit also enlightens us in our faith and guides the Church always to discern the will of God. Today the Lord is giving us the opportunity of praying for our young people who are preparing for Confirmation. They will soon become temples of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit will always teach them the truth, if they but open their hearts to him.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.